The Nugg Doctor follows the Denver Nuggets exclusively and sometimes provides glimpses back into some classic NBA and ABA historical moments. He is constantly compiling knowledge to his NBA IQ. He is always looking for more ways to amaze his fans with his eclectic knowledge. Don't see your favorite pro? No sweat, just request that the Nugg Doctor writes up an article on them so they aren't forgotten! Be sure to check the archives for legends your memory might need some refreshing on.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Nuggets vs. Grizzlies: Game 71 Preview

(Boulder-CO) Today I have teamed up with Joshua AKA Spartacus of 3 Shades of Blue to preview tonight's Nuggets vs. Grizzlies game. This is where we ask the critical questions, so if you don't have the stomach for the cold hard truth than I suggest you exit stage left now. Are you still here? Good! Below are the three questions I asked Joshua and his answers, and the three questions he asked me. But, as always, you will have to use the link above to find my answers on by far and away the best Grizzlies site in the business!

ND: If the Grizzlies are going to beat the Nuggets tonight how, who, and what needs to come alive for Memphis?

JC: If the Grizzlies are going to beat the Nuggets, the players that will need to step up are Darko Milicic and Juan Carlos Navarro. The production that Mike Miller, Rudy Gay and Hakim Warrick give Memphis is fairly consistent, so the two imports are the wild cards on both offense and defense. The way that the Grizzlies beat Denver late last season was the fact that Tarence Kinsey frustrated Allen Iverson so much that it took him completely off his game. Navarro will need to do that, as well as making AI work hard on the defensive end by making shots. Darko will need to get a double-double with a handful of blocks to help negate the Nuggets frontcourt. Oh, they will also need a small miracle -- LOL.

ND: Honestly, explain to me how the deal with the Lakers for Pau Gasol helped you guys? I've looked at it about a million times, from every angle, and still can't find rhyme nor rhythm in it.

JC: I wish I could give an answer to this that would make sense to an "outsider", but there isn't one. Perhaps 4-5 years from now this trade will look good (like the Baron Davis and Vince Carter trades), but for the immediate future it isn't going to pay any noticeable dividends. In reality, the simple fact was that Memphis fans had turned on Pau Gasol and weren't going to attend games as long as he was suiting up in Beale Street Blue. A large portion of the fault for this should be placed on Jerry West, who continually tried to build around the player he wanted Gasol to be, rather than the player that he was. This made people think that he was truly a franchise player capable of carrying a team, when he has always been a solid second option for a good playoff team. This trade was about money, not basketball.

ND: I may be one of the most critical voices of the Nuggets, but all things considered you guys have it tough. How do you stay objective and try to stay positive during a season(s) like Memphis is (has been) having?

JC: Unlike many fans, I am an analytical realist. I don't get wrapped up in pipe dreams. I look at the cold, hard facts and make predictions and judgments based upon that. That's why I only predicted a small improvement from last year compared to most people and came out and said that this team would only win 18 games for the year after the Gasol trade. So it is easy to stay objective when you have that mindset. I leave the drastic mood swings to my co-bloggers MemphisX, Zack and ChipC3. LOLStaying positive is a whole other ball of wax. I look at the moves this team can make (and should, IMO), and then see if they gel with what the owner, GM and coach have said about the direction of this team. Unfortunately, those two aren't as synchronized as I would like. But that is the life of almost any fan, I think. The offseason is almost here and that is where hope springs eternal for the fans of the cellar dwellers. After all, Boston and New Orleans weren't in the playoffs last year and now they lead their respective conferences. If that doesn't give you a smidgen of belief that anything is possible, I don't know what can.

Here are the trio of inquiries that Joshua asked me:

JC: The Nuggets currently have a former MVP (Allen Iverson), a world class All-Star (Carmelo Anthony) and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year (Marcus Camby) on the roster. How is it possible that they are outside the playoffs right now with that level of talent?

JC: Whose team is it -- Melo's or AI's?

ND: Who is the one guy on this Nuggets team that you hope and pray is gone for next year? (Feel free to include a certain coach if you like.)

4 comments:

If anyone wants to be impressed, head over to http://www.nba.com/hotspots/ and take a look at J.R. Smith compared to the rest of the team...

Also, AI should always shoot jumpers from the right baseline apparently.

Nuggets better win tonight -- that Dirk injury is huge for us. And the best part of all is that it could mean that both the Nuggets and Warriors make the playoffs, which is good for everyone involved. nothing against Dallas, but the Nugs and the Warriors are a hell of a lot more exciting, especially when we might get Hornets/Nugs (Paul and Iverson!) and Lakers/GSW in the 1st round... glorious.

Ridiculous. Saving our season one game at a time. What a monster. Ties Peja with the most games with 6+ 3-pointers -- and he hardly played in the early and middle parts of the season. Up to almost 42% from 3 now for the season.

What did I tell you? George finally woke up and is bringing him off the bench early. Now they just gotta re-sign him in the off-season so we don't unleash the fury by letting him go to another team.

Dude! Yes! You have been the biggest J.R. fan of them all and I'm starting to believe you, and in J.R. a whole lot more. It seemed like all of a sudden he started taking the ball to the rack more and his whole game came around!